Alaska: HJR 22 Puts Constitution At Risk

March 24, 2014

The Alaska State Senate is close to voting for HJR 22 which calls for a Constitutional Convention of the States (Con/Con). This will put our Constitution at risk, opening it up to radicals and special interests to change our Constitution. Please CONTACT the following State Senators and ask them to Vote NO on HJR 22.

MESSAGE: Vote NO on HJR 22. HJR 22 calls for a Constitutional Convention of the States for the purpose of proposing amendments. According to former Chief Justice Warren Burger a Convention cannot be limited and puts our U.S. Constitution at risk because radicals and special interest groups will have their own agenda at a Convention. Alaska gets 19.97% of its state budget from the Federal Government. Are Alaska Legislators ready to give up one-fifth of their state budget in order to balance the Federal Budget? If Alaska really wants the federal government to balance the federal budget then Alaska Legislators should send back all federal money coming into Alaska.

Are you as a Legislator willing to refuse the federal money and mandates?Unless you are, an application for a Constitutional Convention for a balanced federal budget or to limit the federal government’s spending, is a sham. (or write your own message-more info below).

CONTACT the Following Senators:

Hollis French, Phone 907-465-3892, Fax: 907-465-6595
Johnny Ellis: Phone: 907-465-3704, Fax: 907-465-2529
Dennis Egan: Phone: 907-465-4947, Fax: 907-465-2108
Berta Gardner: Phone: 907-465-4930, Fax: 907-465-3834
Lyman Hoffman: Phone: 907-465-4453, Fax: 907-465-4523
Donny Olson: Phone: 907-465-3707, Fax: 907-465-4821
Bill Wielechowski: Phone: 907-465-2435, Fax: 907-465-6615
Click Bishop: Phone: 907-465-2327, Fax: 907-465-5241
Anna Fairclough: Phone: 907-465-3777, Fax: 907-465-2819
Lesil McGuire: Phone: 907-465-2995,Fax: 907-465-6592
Kevin Meyer: Phone: 907-465-4945, Fax: 907-465-3476
Bert Stedman: Phone: 907-465-3873, Fax: 907-465-3922

Email the Following Senators:
Senator.Hollis.French@akleg.gov, Senator.Johnny.Ellis@akleg.gov, Senator.Dennis.Egan@akleg.gov, Senator.Berta.Gardner@akleg.gov, Senator.Lyman.Hoffman@akleg.gov, Senator.Donny.Olson@akleg.org, Senator.Bill.Wielechowski@akleg.gov. Senator.Click.Bishop@akleg.gov, Senator.Anna.Fairclough@akleg.gov, Senator.Lesil.McGuire@akleg.gov, Senator.Kevin.Meyer@akleg.gov, Senator.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov

Alaska State Senators: http://senate.legis.state.ak.us/

Article V of the U.S. Constitution states: “The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress…” Notice that Congress Calls the Convention and will set the rules…not the States.

Question: Why do we think that the Congress that ignores the Constitution now would be any more likely to abide by a new amendment to the Constitution?

 
Alaska gets one-fifth, some 19.97%, of its state budget from the Federal Government. Are Alaska’s Legislators ready to give up one-fifth of their state budget in order to Balance the Federal Budget? State Legislators, Republican or Democrat, will not vote to reject federal funds and mandates.
 

This website http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/publications/detail/new-data-reveals-amount-of-federal-aid-to-states-in-2012 lists the percentages of state budgets coming from the Federal Government. Highest Mississippi: 45.35% to Alaska 19.97%.  This is why a Balanced Budget Amendment won’t work, because A Convention cannot be Limited: Former Chief Justice Warren Burger stated: “I have also repeatedly given my opinion that there is no effective way to limit or muzzle the actions of a Constitutional Convention. The Convention could make its own rules and set its own agenda. Congress might try to limit the Convention to one amendment or to one issue, but there is no way to assure that the Convention would obey. After a Convention is convened, it will be too late to stop the convention if we don’t like its agenda…”

http://www.eagleforum.org/topics/concon/pdf/WarrenBurger-letter.pdf